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Two New Devices from Apple: Category Defining 'Media Pad' and 'iPhone Lite'?

I'll wager the pad will be tighly-coupled to iTunes/AppStore for its media content. Possibly able to "phone home" to your main iTunes server.

Imagine an Apple TV portable, with iPhone apps added...

It won't have a clue about other content on your network, apart from through your iTunes server. You could POSSIBLY get round this by using an HTTP media server like myihome...

It's going to be running iPhone OS or similar. No way will you get OSX on this device, apart from by hacking it.

The form factor is another thing that turns me off. With my MBP, I can sit on the couch and use it hands-free, drink a coffee, grab a book. I'll need to hold this tablet thing all the time - not for me!
 
I'd like to see this:
- 10-inch tablet
- Multi-touch
- On-screen keyboard
- iSight
- Runs OS X (not OS X iPhone)
- Wi-Fi
- SIM card slot to allow me to put my current iPhone SIM in it and use it for data access on-the-go
- SSD, but it'll probably come with on-board storage instead, like an iPod
- At least two USB ports, one mini-USB, if necessary, for charging the device. Possibly a Dock connector?

I just want something I can take to work and listen to music, or watch movies on. I don't need it to run Photoshop. Just something I can use on the couch to surf the internet without having to set up my MacBook Pro.

Yes, I know I can watch movies and listen to music on an iPhone, but this is for someone who needs a bigger screen. The iPhone is great, but the screen is very small for movies and web surfing.
 
Peace said:
Wow Karma rocks!!.. Verizon 4G Apple Pad? imagine the possibilities.
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The iProd (codename) is a home/office based phone and media pad to replace the numerical handsets we traditionally use. It's a full screen wireless device that can make regular calls, send texts, be used to play media across a network and be used for video conferencing too. Also, two people having the same device can leave video messages for later playback and replying. The device is not an iPhone replacement (it won't have vibration or Bluetooth and can only be used at home or office) but it should be compatible with with the same SDK for some app development.

It will have a 10 inch multitouch screen, 802.11 a/b/g/n, excellent graphics acceleration for its category, 1xUSB, a 5 megapixel camera that can capture at 30 fps, and a dock stand with support for a regular telephone cable jack and broadband connection.
 
darkpaw said:
I'd like to see this:
- 10-inch tablet
- Multi-touch
- On-screen keyboard
- iSight
- Runs OS X (not OS X iPhone)
- Wi-Fi
- SIM card slot to allow me to put my current iPhone SIM in it and use it for data access on-the-go
- SSD, but it'll probably come with on-board storage instead, like an iPod
- At least two USB ports, one mini-USB, if necessary, for charging the device. Possibly a Dock connector?

I just want something I can take to work and listen to music, or watch movies on. I don't need it to run Photoshop. Just something I can use on the couch to surf the internet without having to set up my MacBook Pro.

Yes, I know I can watch movies and listen to music on an iPhone, but this is for someone who needs a bigger screen. The iPhone is great, but the screen is very small for movies and web surfing.
Click to expand...

I would love something like that. They should make it unlocked/ready to use on any GSM network. :)
 
Sounds like this "iPad" will be the Apple netbook that is also rumoured. Kindle size, most if the features of a MacBook and about $800.

Phone lite I am more dubious about. "Apple don't do cheap"
 
I don't see the point in iPhone Lite, because I don't know what features they could remove to make it cheaper. AppStore requires a touch screen with 480x320 resolution, so I doubt that they'll release a phone with smaller display. If you can't use AppStore with iPhone Lite, what's the point? Surely you could do some basic phone stuff with it, but AppStore is one of the main attractions in iPhone.
 
MacRumors said:


Apple and Verizon partnership rumors seem to have taken on a life of their own with multiple reports that the companies are planning to work together as early as 2010. Businessweek provides the most intriguing report yet with claims that Apple could be working on releasing two different devices with Verizon: an iPhone Lite and a Media Pad.BusinessWeek was able to confirm with Verizon Wireless CEO Lowell McAdam that Verzion had been in talks with Apple but could not get any details from McAdam.

Instead, the magazine cites "two people familiar with the subject" as the source for these two possible Apple devices. The Apple media pad is said to be smaller than Amazon's Kindle ebook reader but its touchscreen is bigger than the Kindle's. The source predicts that this new product will be a category defining breakthrough device:Meanwhile, the iPhone Lite is said to be thinner, smaller, and cheaper than the current iPhone. Most of the cost savings are said to come from a new system-on-chip that has reduced costs.

Article Link: Two New Devices from Apple: Category Defining 'Media Pad' and 'iPhone Lite'?
Click to expand...


Good for US folks that iPhone will be available on two networks. But some iPhone lite etc....never will happen. Come on folks!!! Use your brain!!! They need to polish iPhone first to the state of perfection before they start to make some strange clones. Thats whats has happened to iPod in earlier days. :rolleyes:
Come on!!! This rumor is bull****;)
 
darkpaw said:
I'd like to see this:
- 10-inch tablet
- Multi-touch
- On-screen keyboard
- iSight
- Runs OS X (not OS X iPhone)
- Wi-Fi
- SIM card slot to allow me to put my current iPhone SIM in it and use it for data access on-the-go
- SSD, but it'll probably come with on-board storage instead, like an iPod
- At least two USB ports, one mini-USB, if necessary, for charging the device. Possibly a Dock connector?

I just want something I can take to work and listen to music, or watch movies on. I don't need it to run Photoshop. Just something I can use on the couch to surf the internet without having to set up my MacBook Pro.

Yes, I know I can watch movies and listen to music on an iPhone, but this is for someone who needs a bigger screen. The iPhone is great, but the screen is very small for movies and web surfing.
Click to expand...

"- Runs OS X (not OS X iPhone)".

Yes!!!

Because even the MacBook Air is too large and heavy! To run full blown presentations from NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint. No more than 300 to 400 g or so.
 
No Netbook. Yes iTunes Storebook.

Marx55 said:
Like the first picture of this and we are sold:

Next Apple moves will be Books and Games…
http://spidouz.wordpress.com/2008/09/03/next-apple-moves-will-be-books-and-games

Allowing full blown presentations from NATIVE Keynote and PowerPoint files. We need thousands for our University.
Click to expand...

I think the device's capability is almost spot on except it will not be the OS we all want and probably no CD/Media slot. I think that the reason that there is a possibility that Apple would want to tie up with a cellular company is because of certain markets. Namely Enterprise, Education, Research. There are ample reasons that Apple is not targeting the Netbook crowd, one being that's not where the money is. It is not the small device that we have in mind. But a device that Apple wants us to have for their profits - the iTunes store.

I would expect this tablet device to be out in 2 versions, much like iPhone and iPod Touch. Serving 2 different markets and price points. I doubt it will be a full blown OS like what we have on the Macbook Air or other laptops, because by not having a full blown OS that one can install applications normally - we eliminate the overlapping market that the Macbook Air can already do. So in marketing terms, it is easier.

And also by having a machine "restricted" in some sense, Apple is better able to push out applications from the iTunes store. Apple makes more money if developers use their iTunes store than to say let Adobe sell apps directly to end users. A "restricted" machine also guarantees current iTunes store developers to create applications for it as no existing Mac OS applications can run on it but theirs. Locking the machine to a certain extent also allows Enterprise to have secured control over the devices, one that is not (almost) possible with a Netbook.

So I would assume that this tablet device only runs Apple apps or iTunes store apps. I believe this is the way Apple will want to do business in future, all Apps will have to be downloaded from iTunes store.

User experience, by keeping to the current iPhone/iPod user experience, Apple can make sure that all apps will have consistent UI and navigation structures so users will be able to use the machine easier.


I believe the real key here is that the video/graphic/audio chip will be top notch. The idea is to redefine or rather have a category for 10" screens that can do many many things but do not need a laptop or full blown OS (and the mega program resources needed). But mini apps developed by companies and individuals that are endless send via iTunes store. More apps = More money. Why develop a Netbook that essential does not bring in any money? Sell once and no recurring income?

A) tablet with 3G network subsidizes by your telco. (makes sense for companies buying the tablet for their staffs or even consumers)

Enterprise solutions that one can already be deployed using iPhone but needs the screen size (Think Fedex, Oracle).

Imagine signing your delivery note on the tablet when Fedex deliver something to you. If Fedex or any transport company can replace a communication cum GPS device and built apps into it at much cheaper cost than they currently have, wouldn't it be ideal? This is the space where Blackberry and Palm wished to be but do not have the necessary hardware nor software or network to do so.

How about viewing more extensive database report on your Oracle database while video conferencing with a supplier overseas. It is time their iChat network gets spruce up a bit.

How about a dinner menu in a restaurant that communicates back to the kitchen staffs? How about POS machines?

What bout filling up a membership form while the built in camera takes a pic of you and upload to the database.

What about stock trading? Now you really can trade on a 10" screen compared to a 3.2" phone. And you can zoom in on the graph. Place markers. And truly trade via the graph charts.

The possibilites are endless with such a device which a Netbook is not poised to do and cumbersome to do.

This will be the new category Apple wants to do. The screen size and weight will be the main factor plus the custom apps in a closed deployed environment.


B) tablet without 3G but with GPS for the masses and possibly higher megapixels and better camera. (the iPod Touch entertainment market)

Education and consumer market

- Children taking the tablet and taking images of plants/outdoor/ uploads to schools learning podcast or "picture" cast. I suspect Apple would come out with some Learning apps that helps schools create blogs or web specifically for study/research as iLife wouldn't run on this beast. Or maybe a USB connector for photo download from camera.

A closed system also enable parental controls better.

- Imagine the tablet has a virtual piano keyboard on it and learning songs from garageband. How many musical instruments can you learn? Maybe there is a USB connection to MIDI or keyboard players to capture your playing.

- Deployed learning device. Shows what the teacher is learning in class. Download all your texbook on it. Bookmark it. Reference it. Highlight it. Google it. Touchscreen is important - therefore netbooks won't do. Develop assignments to your class. iTeacher or whatever app they will come out.

- Book reader - ability to get into this market will be a dream for Apple I guess. It will just expand the Apple store (ching-ching). A book that has video/animations. All those multimedia CD-rom titles one buys for their children to learn ABC. Imagine it all on iTunes stores for you to download.

Gaming market

Games that are now not feasbile on the iPod/iPhone screen size can take advantage of this. Maybe we have 2 versions of graphic processor in this beast. Multiplayer game are now much possible. Think Chess. Think Need for Speed. Think playing Monopoly.

GPS
GPS and road navigation maps. No need to explain here.

Compliments AppleTV
Video and iTunes support. Of course it has to be a music/video player by itself. Now instead of your TV now it has a tablet streaming from your Apple TV. Now it will just bash all the Apple Television rumors that they were building.

I think the new 10" screen whatever-you-wanna-call-it is endless. It does not overlap into any category to what Apple currently offers and in the future might just replace your Macbook. It probably be another groundbreaking and beta project Apple wants to test like iPod and it is no Netbook. It's a iTunes book.
 
Very good post and very valid points.

guet said:
To respond to your predictions with more of my own :



It will run a different OS (Mobile OS X) which is designed for a touch interface - that's a huge difference to start with.



No stylus, why use a stylus when you have a UI designed for finger touches? It could be used for text input, but this still isn't very advanced.



Possible, but see the iPhone, bluetooth will be a second thought, and most people will use the onscreen keyboard.



They'd have their own dock, not a third party one.



Keep dreaming - quite possible, but why would they?



Again, quite possible and useful, but highly unlikely. You are not their target market.



It'll support that the way the iPhone does (notifications), or possibly with an Apple app.



More likely just the iPhone client, perhaps with video. The iPhone does have quite a few alternative IM clients though.



Not going to happen. From Apple's point of view, why do this?



The iphone is already compatible with some of these via Safari, suppose they might do tie-ins with Google, but I doubt it for launch.



heh. I really doubt it.



I suspect you'll be disappointed, as the features you've quoted are quite technical and stray from Apple's usual focus on mobile devices (consumption of media).

I'd look for this to be the perfect device to function as a video player, book reader, web surfer, and email machine, in other words a competitor to netbooks, without the clunky keyboards, and the horrible XP interface, and a competitor to kindle, without the clunky interface. If they get it right, they could redeem the reputation of tablets as mobile computers.
Click to expand...
 
The iPhone "lite" option is definitely do-able. All they'd have to do is keep it at 8GB (while upgrading the new iPhones to 16GB and 32GB), so it would have less space. They could also remove GPS and the Camera. Basically, think 1st generation iPod Touch with the ability to make phone calls.

They could make it slightly thinner by removing all these things, or they could include a smaller screen. If they make it slightly smaller, they wouldn't have to necessarily change the resolution, though it would probably be harder to read. Or they can keep the same form factor, after all just because its lite or a "smaller version" doesn't mean that it has to look different or be smaller in the physical sense since it would be "smaller" in terms of features.

The target of this phone, though, would be poor college students and high schoolers who in this day and age all have cell phones but can't afford a $2,000+ commitment over 2 years.

They can make it $99 with a 2-year contract or $299 prepay, and make the data plan optional or pay as you go (like $1/MB or something) to make it more affordable for teens (who I am sure would jump on it if they could pay $30 a month for service rather than $70+), while the iPhone remains at $199 and $299 depending on the capacity with the same plans as they have now.
 
Why does everyone want to call this an "iPhone Lite?" A bunch of us keep getting the uber flames in the iPhone forum to suggest than an "iPhone Nano" would be released at some point and/or would be a good product. All the spankers that couldn't see the needs past their own may be in for a little "told ya so."
 
Oh and by the way...

What would a tablet Mac do that an iPhone and a Mac not?
What would a tablet Mac do that an iPhone and a Mac both do?
What do the Apple patents describe about the tablet device?
The mac book air, in my opinion was an exercise in an achievable form factor.

A game changing, disruptive device... has to be ground breaking..

It will be a touch interface, all the things that are smooth and seemless we have come to expect a Star Trek device to be.

No Keyboard. Don't expect it.

the total wireless device, 3-5G, GPS, WiFi n, Bluetooth...basically everything we've come to love about iPhone... but there's more.. what that more will be, will be unique to the device...Apple have that in mind of course, they know what they have in the pipe is a game changer, and a disruptive technology.

This Verizon negotiation info leak was designed to get leverage and keep negotiations open and competitive..

The up coming Apple Dev Con, we may see Spock 2009 walk out to hand either Steve or Tim the latest status report on his new Tablet...

I can't wait!
:apple:
 
I'm gona have to say, this concept I produced last year is quite close to what I believe this forthcoming product is/should be. I called it the "MacPad', an 8" tablet with the "Mobile OS X" running the iPhone interface but capable of handling OS X applications.



Read the description and more images available here.
 
Posted a blog post late in March about the possibility of an Apple tablet or netbook. http://tinyurl.com/c3zlar

Personally, I am disappointed at Apple if they're planning on producing (essentially) a "huge-ass-iPhone", and then slimming down the iPhone (and just for clarification, the "iPhone lite" [can we stop calling it that] will replace the existing iPhone), so we have two touchscreen devices releasing at once. If anything, I would've liked to see a big 10-11" tablet that 1) ran OS X 2) had an Intel processor and Nvidia GPU and 3) was cheap enough for people to actually purchase. Either that or a small netbook (like a MacBook Air Nano).

Overall I'm not impressed by the idea of a big iPhone.
 
charlituna said:
more like a friend of a friend who dated my sister's roommate's cousin a few years ago says that Verizon might maybe get something at some point.

in other words, it couldn't be more unconfirmed.

frankly I don't see it. I can't believe that the contract with ATT would allow another network to get anything that was iphone like. i also don't see Apple going back to basics to create a phone for CDMA. it would be a nightmare in so many departments to make it and then deal with the warehouse etc.

I will believe that something new is coming when I hear it from Apple. as for carriers, I suspect that whatever happens will be ATT only until the end of the contract and then, if Apple is smart, it will be open bar to all carriers that support the hardware (ie GSM for now, whatever the new great successor is later)
Click to expand...

Have read as far as #48, above, before someone has made much sense of that Valleywag quality rumor.
 
olternaut said:
Duh!!!!

However, this doesn't mean Apple hasn't found a way around that deal for something to happen this year.

Why not have different kinds of mobiles that are not iphones? That is how Apple is going to do it. An iphone nano and a iTablet. Both technically are not iphones.
I suspected Apple might pull something like this but didn't think it was going to happen. Its a shrewd Apple type of move isn't it? :D
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That's not the way things work in the grown-up, legal, real world of contracts. Lawyers get paid $$$$ to shut obvious loop holes.
 
adamgalas said:
The Iphone was a super cool web surfing Ipod. The touch was the Iphone sans the phone.

What the heck would a media player be?

The touch fits in your pocket, something with a 10" screen would not.

The Touch is reasonably priced.

A 10" pad would likely cost $500 for the base model.

I just don't see what a media pad would do that the touch didn't?

If it has a 3 G connection then its basically an oversized Iphone, if its wifi only then its an oversized Ipod touch.

What is the niche of this product?

I just can't see where the market for such a device would be.

Thus I am skeptical of such a device.

The only thing I expect to come out of Apple this summer is the 3rd gen Iphone.
Click to expand...

I can think of a few reasons it would sell:

1. Replacment for the portable DVD player - watch your iTunes movies on the move
2. Portable games machine - super PSP
3. eBook reader
4. Portable mini computer with email/internet access on the move

The current iPhone/iPod Touch can do all this but the screen it just too small to make it enjoyable. A larger screen model would simply broaden the appeal and add a new dimension.
 
People would buy a contractless thin version of the iPhone faster than your mama can say Apple.
 
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